_How Galahad and his fellows came to a castle, and how they were fought
withal, and how they slew their adversaries, and other matters._
So it befell, as they spake thus there came a squire by them, and asked
what they were. And they said they were of king Arthur’s house. Is that
sooth? said he. Now by my head, said he, ye be ill arrayed; and then
turned he again unto the cliff fortress. And within a while they heard
a horn blow. Then a gentlewoman came to them, and asked them of whence
they were, and they told her. Fair lords, said she, for God’s love turn
again if ye may, for ye be come unto your death. Nay, they said, we
will not turn again, for He shall help us in whose service we be
entered in. Then as they stood talking, there came knights well armed,
and bad them yield them, or else to die. That yielding, said they,
shall be noyous to you; and therewith they let their horses run, and
Sir Percivale smote the foremost to the earth, and took his horse and
mounted thereupon, and the same did Galahad. Also Sir Bors served
another so. For they had no horses in that country, for they left their
horses when they took their ship in other countries. And so when they
were horsed then began they to set upon them. And they of the castle
fled into the strong fortress, and the three knights after them, into
the castle, and so alight on foot, and with their swords slew them
down, and gat into the hall. Then when they beheld the great multitude
of people they had slain, they held themselves great sinners. Certes,
said Bors, I ween and God had loved them that we should not have had
power to have slain them thus but they have done so much against our
Lord that he will not suffer them to reign no longer. Say ye not so,
said Galahad, for if they misdid against God the vengeance is not ours,
but to Him which hath power thereof. So came there out of a chamber a
good man which was a priest, and bear God’s body in a cup. And when he
saw them which lay dead in the hall, he was all abashed. And Galahad
did off his helm and kneeled down, and so did his two fellows. Sir,
said they, have ye no dread of us, for we be of king Arthur’s court.
Then asked the good man how they were slain so suddenly; and they told
it him. Truly, said the good man, and ye might live as long as the
world might endure, never might ye have done so great an alms-deed as
this. Sir, said Galahad, I repent me much, inasmuch as they were
christened. Nay, repent you not, said he, for they were not christened,
and I shall tell you how that I wot of this castle. Here was lord earl
Hernox not but one year, and he had three sons good knights of arms,
and a daughter the fairest gentlewoman that men knew. So those three
knights loved their sister so sore that they burnt in love, and so they
dishonoured her, maugre her head. And for she cried to her father, they
slew her, and took their father and put him in prison, and wounded him
nigh to the death, but a cousin of hers rescued him. And then did they
great untruth: they slew clerks and priests, and made beat down
chapels, that our Lord’s service might not be served nor said; and this
same day their father sent to me for to be confessed and houseled, but
such shame had never man as I had this day with the three brethren: but
the earl bad me suffer, for he said they should not long endure, for
three servants of our Lord should destroy them: and now it is brought
to an end. And by this ye may wit that our Lord is not displeased with
your deeds. Certes, said Galahad, and it had not pleased our Lord,
never should we have slain so many men in so little a while. And then
they brought the earl Hernox out of prison into the midst of the hall,
that knew Galahad anon, and yet he saw him never afore but by
revelation of our Lord.